It is square, and of three stories, embattled at the summit, and lighted by narrow square windows; from the style of building, it is probably as old as the reign of Henry the Fourth.
Nearly adjoining the Tower is the Meeting-house of the Methodist New Connexion; and further on to the right is Swan Hill, formerly called Murivance, signifying before or within the walls. Passing Allatt’s School, a chaste freestone building, the turning to the right leads to St. John’s Hill, chiefly occupied by private individuals. Proceeding onwards, St. Chad’s church breaks upon the view, having a terrace on the south-west side which commands a fine prospect of the beautiful Quarry Walk. Leaving the principal entrance to this delightful promenade, a broad thoroughfare leads to the handsome residences of Claremont Buildings. Continuing our route to the end of this street, a narrow way opens to St. Austin’s Friars and the river, on the margin of which once stood an out-work, flanked by two round towers, erected by the corporation at a remote period for the protection of the opposite ford. In later times one of these towers was called the “Round House,” and was demolished about forty years ago. Turning to the right, we observe the remnant of the house of
THE AUSTIN FRIARS,
of which little appears excepting the outer portion of a red stone building, now used as a tan-house. The Friars Eremites of St. Augustine are supposed to have located in this town about the middle of the thirteenth century, and erected their house on a site which had been used during the reign of John as a place of sepulture, interment in consecrated ground having for a period been forbidden by that king.
The following beautiful initial letter, affixed to a charter from Edward the Third, in 1345, assigns to the friars of this convent the out-work above alluded to, under certain conditions, with leave to have a postern gate for ingress and egress towards their house and church.
The king is depicted as sitting upon his throne, holding a globe in his left and a sceptre in his right hand, with two friars kneeling before him, and a third presenting a book or charter.
In the church of this Priory was a sanctuary, where a murderer could take refuge, and thereby escape his merited punishment; and several knights and men of rank, slain in the battle of Shrewsbury, were buried within its walls.
Previously to the dissolution, this house, like many others, fell suddenly into a state of bankruptcy, and the church was stripped of its furniture and vestments. On the site of the precinct which once pertained to this friary, and extended to the Quarry walk, several good houses have been erected.